Your visibility should always be clear – even when the roads aren’t.

Let’s look at the three main facets of clarity for drivers:

• your windshield,
• windshield wipers,
• and headlights.

Proper maintenance of these three key components of your vehicle is vital to provide you with optimal visibility when driving.

There are three general types of headlights you can expect in a vehicle: halogen lights (yellow and the least bright); High-Intensity Discharge (HID); and LED (extremely bright white lights), which are in all new cars. The new smart tech in lights are LED Matrix lights, which have adaptive technology to control brightness and coverage, etc.

Let’s talk lights:

LED lights require little maintenance and last longer than the classic halogen lights, which last 500-1000 hours. HID last 2000-3000 hours while LEDs can last up to 30,000 hours. One way to tell if any of the bulbs in your headlights are out, since it’s often hard to spot just by looking at the light, is to listen to your indicator. If the ticking signal is faster than normal it means one or more of your bulbs is dead. However, not all cars have this feature. Do a regular check-up on your car by walking around while the lights are on to observe if any bulbs are out. If possible, have someone running the car press the brakes so you can ensure the taillights are working as well as the headlights. Turn up the high beams to confirm they are working as well.

High beams are not necessary within 150 metres of an approaching vehicle on the opposite side of the road – meaning it is almost never needed within a city. Depending on your car, a blue light icon may appear on your dashboard to show you when your high beams are engaged. Also never use your high beams in the fog, as they will only reflect off the visible water droplets in the air and shine back on you instead of helping you see the road ahead.

If your headlights or taillights appear foggy inside the plastic shell, it is recommended that you take your car in to a professional mechanic to have them cleaned, as it will affect the brightness of your lights and therefore your safety. They can professionally restore the hazy look that comes from driving, allowing those beams to be brighter and safer.

And then the wipers:

The second main tool used to maintain visibility in your vehicle are your windshield wipers. Regularly replace your windshield wipers every 6-12 months to keep them in tip-top shape, as the rubber will harden and become ineffective in clearing your windshield of rain, snow, and dirt. When replacing your wipers, you must ensure you get the correct length, size, and type, as different vehicles will require different things. You may want to bring an old pair of wipers from the same car with you to purchase a new set, to be sure they match and will fit properly to your windshield.

If your vehicle has a rear windshield wiper, don’t forget it similarly needs to be replaced as the plastic will age over time and become less effective.

A word to the wise on wipers in winter:

It is not a recommended practice to lift the windshield wipers off your windshield in the event of snow or freezing temperatures, as leaving them up for extended periods of time will stretch out the springs and reduce their efficacy in sticking to the windshield when needed. Instead, if the wipers freeze to your windshield, scrape the ice off as you would your windows, and then allow the heat of the running car to thaw the ice enough for the wipers to move again. This may be more easily done if the wipers are put in a vertical position against the glass when the car is put away. Some cars, even when turned off, will sense a windshield wiper being moved manually across the windshield and move the wiper up the glass to allow for easier cleaning.

The last word on windshields:

The last key component in driving visibility is the windshield itself. Ensure your windshield wiper fluid is frequently refilled. You would do well to keep an extra container of fluid in the car in case of emergency. Use the windshield wiper fluid to clean the windshield when you are driving, such as when there is dirt or other impediments to your vision on the windshield. You can also clean your windshield by hand with soap and water, followed by glass cleaner, to more wholly get the windshield it’s cleanest so you can clearly see through it from all angles.

If you find a crack or chip in your windshield, even if it is very small, get it professionally fixed right away before it spreads. Small chips can be fixed relatively quickly without replacing the entire windshield, but once a crack spreads the integrity of the glass is compromised and must be entirely replaced. Replacement is more expensive and will take longer as the part will likely need to be ordered in special to the repair shop.

A simple way to increase your visibility in rain or snow is to follow farther behind the vehicle in front of you. By leaving more space between your vehicles, less snow and water from the other vehicle’s wheels will hit your windshield and obscure your line of sight. It also makes sense for increased distance for safe braking as well.

Occasionally in the winter your windshield and windows may become foggy from the inside of the car because of the cold temperatures outside. Most vehicles come equipped with air conditioning vents in the dashboard to blow cool air into the windshield to combat the fog. You will get the same effect from rolling down your windows, if possible, or by turning off the heat.

Pro tip:

The last tip to maintaining visibility is to keep a microfibre or other absorbent cloth in your vehicle in order to quickly wipe foggy windows, windshields, mirrors and even cameras when they become obstructed with fog or grime. All new cars are required by law to have a back-up camera, which you should clean occasionally, and more often in the winter as snow and ice will cover the camera lens. They only require a simple wipe with a dry cloth to get your visibility back.

About our Pros:

Ask the pros at AE Auto Plus to check on any concerns. When you come in for maintenance we’ll also do a check-up on your vehicle and advise you of any issues that might impair your safety.